Sliding mechanism and display device using the same

ABSTRACT

A sliding mechanism and a display device using the same are provided. The display device is supported by a supporting structure. The sliding mechanism comprises a sliding track, a slider, an elastic element and a fixing prop. The sliding track is disposed on the display device. The slider is movably disposed on the sliding track. The elastic element has a winding portion disposed at one end of the sliding track and an extended end connected to the slider and simultaneously movable with the slider. The fixing prop is disposed on the slider for connecting the slider with the supporting structure. When the slider slides along the sliding track, the display device moves relative to the supporting structure for adjusting the height of the display device accordingly. The elastic element provides the slider with a constant force whose direction is opposite to that of the gravity of the display device.

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application Serial No. 95134317, filed Sep. 15, 2006, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to a sliding mechanism and a display device using the same, and more particularly to a sliding mechanism enabling the display device to adjust its height and a display device using the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the features of lightweight, slimness, low power consumption and low electromagnetic radiation, liquid crystal display (LCD) device has gained great popularity and become an essential piece of equipment to new generation computers. As the technology advances, liquid crystal display device, having made significant progress in terms of display quality, response speed and the size, has gradually replaced conventional TV and become a favored entertainment appliance.

Normally, LCD device is supported by a detachable base capable of adjusting the height of the LCD device. Or, the user can separate the base from the display device and directly hangs the display device on the wall, further saving space and maintaining tidiness. The height adjustment of the display device is normally achieved by the base, therefore the height of the display device can not be adjusted if the display device is separated from the base. That is, once the display device is hung on the wall, the display device is fixed and the height of the display device is no longer adjustable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a sliding mechanism and a display device using the same. The sliding mechanism is disposed on the display device for enabling the display device to move relative to a supporting structure. No matter the display device is disposed on a desktop or hung onto a wall, the height of the display device can be appropriately adjusted to fit the user's need.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a sliding mechanism applied in a display device supported by a supporting structure is provided. The sliding mechanism comprises a sliding track, a slider, an elastic element and a fixing prop. The sliding track is disposed on the display device. The slider is movably disposed on the sliding track. The elastic element has a winding portion and an extended end. The winding portion is disposed at one end of the sliding track. The extended end is connected to the slider and simultaneously movable with the slider. The fixing prop is disposed on the slider for connecting the slider with the supporting structure, so that when the slider slides along the sliding track, the display device moves relative to the supporting structure for adjusting the height of the display device accordingly. The flexible element provides the sliding track with a constant force whose direction is opposite to that of the gravity of the display device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a display device supported by a supporting structure is provided. The display device comprises a casing, a body and a sliding mechanism. The casing has a strip opening. The body is disposed in the casing. The sliding mechanism comprises a sliding track, a slider, an elastic element and a fixing prop. The sliding track is disposed on the body. The slider is movably disposed on the sliding track. The elastic element has a winding portion and an extended end. The winding portion is disposed at one end of the sliding track. The extended end is connected to the slider and simultaneously movable with the slider. The fixing prop is disposed on the slider and passes through the strip opening to be projected outside the casing for connecting the slider with the supporting structure so that when the slider slides along the sliding track, the display device moves relative to the supporting structure for adjusting the height of the display device accordingly. The elastic element provides the slider with a constant force whose direction is opposite to that of the gravity of the display device.

The invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram of a display device having two sliding mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the sliding mechanisms of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded diagram of the sliding mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a 3-D side view of a display device having two sliding mechanisms according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the display device of FIG. 4 hung onto a wall via a hanging stand; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the display device of FIG. 4 disposed on a desktop via a base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The sliding mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is applied in a display device. The display device includes a casing, a body and a sliding mechanism. In the present embodiment of the invention, the display device preferably has a pair of sliding mechanisms. Referring to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram of a display device having two sliding mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the sliding mechanisms of FIG. 1. The display device 100 includes a pair of sliding mechanisms 10, a casing 20 and a body 30. The display device 100 is supported by a supporting structure (not illustrated in the diagram). The casing 20 preferably has a pair of strip openings 21. The body 30 is disposed in the casing 20. Each sliding mechanism 10 includes a sliding track 11, a slider 12, an elastic element 13 and a fixing prop 14. The sliding track 11 is disposed on the body 30. More specifically, the sliding track 11 is disposed on a shielding 31 of the body 30. The slider 12 is movably disposed on the sliding track 11. The elastic element 13 has a winding portion 13 a and an extended end 13 b (as indicated in FIG. 2). The winding portion 13 a is disposed at one end of the sliding track 11, and the extended end 13 b is connected to the slider 12 and simultaneously movable with the slider 12. The fixing prop 14 is disposed on the slider 12 and passes through the strip opening 21 to project outside the casing 20 for connecting the slider 12 with the supporting structure. Then, when the fixing prop 14 and the slider 12 simultaneously slide along the sliding track 11, the display device 100 moves relative to the supporting structure for adjusting the height of the display device 100 accordingly. The elastic element 13 is a constant force spring for example, and the elastic element 13 provides the slider 12 with a constant force whose direction is opposite to that of the gravity of the display device 100.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exploded diagram of the sliding mechanism of FIG. 1 is shown. The sliding mechanism 10 further comprises a sliding element 15 disposed between the sliding track 11 and slider 12 and simultaneous movable with the slider 12. In the sliding mechanism 10, the sliding track 11 and the slider 12 are made from a rigid material for providing the sliding mechanism 10 with sufficient strength from being deformed when receiving a force applied by the user. The sliding element 15 is made from polyoxymethylene (POM) resin for example, with a lower friction coefficient with the sliding track 11 for reducing the friction and noise generated when the slider 12 moves relative to the sliding track 11, such that the slider 12 moves smoothly and the wearing between the sliding track 11 and the slider 12 is reduced. Besides, the surface of the slider 12 and the sliding track 11 can be coated with a coating, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating, such that the surface friction is further reduced. Consequently, the wearing between the sliding track 11 and the slider 12 can also be reduced.

Besides, the sliding mechanism 10 further comprises a positioning recess 16 disposed at one end of the sliding track 11 for receiving the winding portion 13 a to position the elastic element 13. When the slider 12 and the extended end 13 b simultaneously slide along the sliding track 11, the winding portion 13 a rotates within the positioning recess 16. The positioning recess 16 is made from a material such as polyoxymethylene (POM) resin for reducing the friction generated when the winding portion 13 a rotates. Likewise, the positioning recess 16 also reduces noises and the wearing.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the display device 100 has a pair of sliding mechanisms 10, and the gravity of the display device 100 is equal to the total constant force provided by two elastic elements 13. Thus, when the display device 100 is supported by the supporting structure, the height of the display device 100 is firmly fixed, and the display device 100 will not slide downward due to the gravity of the display device 100. As long as a force larger than the static friction between the slider 12 and the sliding track 11 is applied, the display device 100 will move relative to the supporting structure. Thus, the user can easily adjust the height of the display device 100; in other words, the adjustment of the height of the display device 100 is more laborsaving.

Referring to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a 3-D side view of a display device having two sliding mechanisms 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The sliding mechanisms 10 are disposed on the shielding 31 of the body 30 in parallel, and the strip openings 21 situate on the casing 20 in parallel. There is an interval d existing between two neighboring sliding mechanisms 10 and two neighboring strip openings 21 (as indicated in FIG. 4). Therefore, no matter before or after adjusting the height, the right-side height and the left-side height of the display device 100 maintain the same level, that is, the display device 100 remains in a horizontal state.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the display device is supported by a supporting structure such as a hanging stand or a base. The display device can be hung onto a wall via a hanging stand or placed on a desktop via a base. Referring to FIG. 5, a side view of the display device of FIG. 4 hung onto a wall via a hanging stand is shown. The hanging stand 40 has a coupling portion 41 corresponding to the fixing prop 14. The coupling portion 41 is connected to the fixing prop 14 for hanging the display device 100 onto the wall 50. The display device 100, equipped with the sliding mechanism 10 and supported by the hanging stand 40, is capable of moving relative to the hanging stand 40 along the Y direction parallel to the wall, thereby adjusting the height of the display device 100. Referring to FIG. 6, a side view of the display device of FIG. 4 disposed on a desktop via a base is shown. The base 60 has a connecting portion 61. The connecting portion 61 is correspondingly connected to the fixing prop 14 for placing the display device 100 on the desktop 70. In this case, the display device 100, which is slided through the sliding mechanism 10 and supported by the base 60, is movable relative to the base 60 along the Y1 direction perpendicular to the desktop 70 for adjusting the height of the display device 100.

According to the sliding mechanism and the display device using the same disclosed in the above embodiment, a sliding track of each sliding mechanism is disposed on a body of the display device, and a slider of each sliding mechanism is connected to a supporting structure via a fixing prop, such that when the slider moves relative to the sliding track, the display device moves with respect to two supporting structures. The advantage is that the display device itself has the function of adjusting the height, and no matter the display device is placed on a desktop or hung onto a wall, the user still can adjust the height of the display device to fit actual needs. Besides, the sliding element disposed between the slider and the sliding track reduces the friction between the slider and the sliding track, hence reducing the noises generated when the slider and an extended end of the elastic element simultaneously slide along the sliding track and reducing the wearing of materials. Next, as a winding portion of the flexible element is received within a positioning recess, the winding portion can rotate smoothly. Moreover, as the sliding mechanisms are disposed in parallel and separated at an interval, the display device can maintain horizontal level and keep the same height at both the left-hand side and the right-hand side before and after the adjustment of height. Furthermore, with a constant force whose direction is opposite to the gravity of the display device, the height of the display device is fixed, and the user can easily adjust the height of the display device.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures. 

1. A sliding mechanism applied in a display device supported by a supporting structure, the sliding mechanism comprising: a sliding track disposed on the display device; a slider movably disposed on the sliding track; an elastic element having a winding portion and an extended end, wherein the winding portion is disposed at one end of the sliding track, and the extended end is connected to the slider and simultaneously movable with the slider; and a fixing prop disposed on the slider for connecting the slider with the supporting structure, wherein when the slider slides along the sliding track, the display device moves relative to the supporting structure for adjusting the height of the display device accordingly; wherein the elastic element provides the slider with a constant force whose direction is opposite to that of the gravity of the display device.
 2. The sliding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the sliding mechanism further comprises: a sliding element disposed between the slider and the sliding track; wherein the sliding element is used for reducing the friction between the slider and the sliding track.
 3. The sliding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the slider has a coating for reducing the friction between the slider and the sliding track.
 4. The sliding mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the coating is made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
 5. The sliding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the sliding mechanism further comprises: a positioning recess disposed at the end of the sliding track for receiving the winding portion to position the elastic element; wherein when the slider and the extended end simultaneously move along the sliding track, the winding portion rotates within the positioning recess.
 6. The sliding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is a base or a hanging stand.
 7. The sliding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the elastic element is a constant force spring.
 8. The sliding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a body, and the sliding track is disposed on a shielding of the body.
 9. A display device supported by a supporting structure, the display device comprising: a casing having a strip opening; a body disposed in the casing; and at least a sliding mechanism as claimed in claim
 1. 10. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the supporting structure is a base of display device or a hanging stand.
 11. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the display device comprises two sliding mechanisms disposed on the body in parallel and separated at an interval.
 12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the display device comprises two strip openings disposed on the casing in parallel and separated at the interval.
 13. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the body has a shielding on which the sliding track is disposed. 